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International travel is an expensive and time-consuming exercise. Many of us go on international trips either for business or work related trips, to visit families, for studies in foreign countries or just for a vacation. Here are some tips to make this travel pleasant and easy on you and your pockets.

Planning your trip:

Plan your trip well in advance, if possible. This presents you an opportunity to get better air ticket deals. Airfares for international travels are seasonal. There are three main seasons: Low, Shoulder and Peak. Traveling in peak season is always the most expensive. If your trip is not time bound, plan to travel in the low season to get cheapest and low airfares. For travel in peak season, shop for deals well in advance. This assures you good price, your choice of airlines and your choice of dates. If possible, keep the travel dates flexible, as that would help you in getting lower fares. There is a notion that you can get cheap air tickets if you wait till the last minute. This is not necessarily true and during the peak season, you may run the risk of not getting a seat on any airlines at all.

There are many ways on how you can save money. Many airlines have different fares for weekday and weekend travel. If you are planning to break your journey midway, some airlines offer free stopovers while others charge a fee. Sometimes, direct / non-stop flights are expensive than the ones with one or more stops. Less known airlines can offer hard to resist deals. You can either call individual airlines to get their air fares and then compare or search on travel websites, which offer online booking facilities. While calling individual airlines can be a time consuming and tedious process, online booking sites may not be the right option if you have a few twists in your trip. And both these options may not give you access to the promotional and discount fares. The best bet will be to call a travel agent and let them do the job for you.

Travel agents are a good source to get great deals. They can help you in finding deals with more than one airline and can offer tickets for discounted prices. They have access to almost all airlines and have the expertise to search for the cheapest tickets in the market. Travel agents are a great source of information. Do not hesitate to ask them questions. They can provide valuable tips on how you can save money. Travel agents deal with more than one traveler at a time and hence may not be able to give you the details in the first call. Give them your trip details and give them some time and they can come up with really good deals for you. Travel agents are easy to spot as many of them have websites. A travel agency with excellent customer service is an asset. Some travel sites like [http://www.TravelWorldServices], [http://www.LowfareAlways.com], etc. offer personalized over-the-phone services on travel to various destinations across the world.

There are several travel agencies around the world. However, it is important that you choose the right travel agency, which offers the best customer service at the cost of a few additional dollars. This is better than booking the ticket online or offline through a travel agency who may offer really cheap deal but may end up not delivering you the ticket or not confirming your seats.

So the first step to planning your next international trip is to get yourself a really good travel agent.

Mumbai is the business capital of India and the capital of Maharashtra. The most happening city of India never sleeps in night and its magnificence and splendor make it different from other cities. India’s largest stock exchange is situated here. It is previously known as “Bombay”. It will be unfair if we don’t discuss about Bollywood while talking about Mumbai. It is the biggest film industry in India. Everybody wants to visit Mumbai to see this enthralling and vibrating city.

The best way to commute to Mumbai is by air. There are various airlines which operate their direct flights to Mumbai on daily basis. It has the busiest airport in the country in terms of passenger traffic which is known as Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. It caters needs of millions of passengers every day because it is well connected to the entire world.

You can get flights to Mumbai from all the major airports in India. You can also avail cheap air tickets to reach here as many airlines usually offer discounted air fares. Whether it is your vacation or business trip you can get direct flights on daily basis. Various airlines offers huge discount on air tickets to reach here if purchased well in advance. Different airlines operate their direct flight to Mumbai like Jet Airways, Indian Airlines, SpiceJet, GoAir, etc.

There are various places to visit in this city which attracts thousands of visitors. If you are planning to visit the city then the main attractions are Essel World, Marine Drive, Gateway of India, Hanging Garden, and Film City etc. To visit Mumbai all you have to do is book your air tickets and visit the thriving metropolis.

As the urge to visit the city is continuously rising, airlines are also increasing number of flights from all the major cities to Mumbai. Large numbers of flights are available from New Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Kolkata, Ahmadabad, etc. There are international flights which are from London, New York, Tokyo, Dubai, Singapore, etc. Now airline companies are initiating cheap flights on almost every route. To get a cheap flight ticket to Mumbai it is advised to book your ticket online or call your travel agent to know the best deal. You can also check information on their websites and can confirm tickets online.

To avail discount on the air tickets you have to negotiate with the travel agent or the airline companies. You can also book your ticket in Low Cost Carrier like JetLite, SpiceJet which offer lucrative discount on the tickets. They always promote various schemes which give lot of discount and additional services. Low cost carriers also provide various facilities to make their airline more popular among mass.

Most of the airlines have also implemented online flight booking facility on their website to make it easy for travelers to book air tickets. Air ticket booking can also be done by calling the customer service of the airline. Purchasing air tickets directly from the airline can also save you huge money as this day airline doesn’t’ has to pay commission to any travel agent.

When something goes wrong, we complain to the world. However, when something goes better than we expected, the credit doesn’t necessarily always go where it should. I’m writing this blog post/ article/ review to give that credit where it’s due.

My parents, both of who are in their late 60’s, were flying to Bangalore in April to meet relatives there. All of us were booked on an early morning SpiceJet flight. I normally do my trips with them since I feel uncomfortable about them traveling alone. However, as chance would have it, an important & un-avoidable business trip came up during the same period and I had to cancel my ticket.

Worried, I called up the airline and found out that they have a “Meet & Assist” service. The service was free of charge so I didn’t have too many expectations from it, nonetheless I chose to avail it, since that would lend me some peace of mind.

On the day of the departure, I drove my parents down to the airport unsure of how they’ll manage without me around or even if this “Meet and Assist” thing would work well.

Anyhow, here’s their account of the journey from the Delhi Airport to Bangalore when I spoke to them after they reached.

My parents were met by a ground staff at the check in counter who helped them through all the formalities and helped them to check in quickly. My mother has arthritis, making it difficult for her to climb stairs and such. Noticing this, a SpiceJet staff helped her aboard the bus and arranged for a seat in the over crowded bus.

Inside the aircraft, my parents were guided to their seats and the in flight staff put their hand luggage in the hold. My mother is a jittery passenger like some and not really comfortable during the initial takeoff and landing. However, she found both quite comfortable on the flight which helped her relax for the journey.

Since this was an early morning flight, I had pre-ordered breakfast for both of them. They quite liked the food which had a healthy variety and good taste. The same staff member who had helped them with their luggage also got them complimentary tea and cookies.

Check out again was a breeze since the on-ground staff was there to help. They also rolled the trolley for them till the exit point.

Mom and dad are of course really happy about the five star treatment they got from the SpiceJet staff. What makes me really happy is that finally there is an airline which is sensitive to the needs of senior citizens and an airline that I can let my parents fly alone on.

You can get luxury travel on a shoestring budget by planning your vacation or trip just a bit more carefully.

Read a few of these tips, and then go on your well-deserved getaway without burning a hole in your pocket.

Always remember: When planning your trip, timing is key.

For example, school vacation weeks are the worst times to plan trips. Most parents have no choice but to travel at these high-peak seasons, so school vacation periods in any country are always going to be crowded. The airfare is always sky high – no pun intended.

If you’ve traveled during these peak seasons, you may noticed that coach seats during a school vacation week could cost you more money than a first class ticket during the off-season. So remember, unless you MUST travel during these peak periods, avoid winter and spring breaks at all costs.

Here’s another important tip: Regardless of how you decide to book your luxury travel arrangements – either through a travel agent or through an online travel website – make sure that you know exactly who you are working with. For example, your best bet to save on a hotel and car rental package is probably going to be with Priceline.com’s “name your own price” option. However, Priceline.com is not the best choice for international airline travel. You’d be better off with an agent. Either way you go, try to use the same travel agent or service. This makes sure that you build a solid relationship with the company you’re dealing with. If you are loyal to them, they will be loyal to you. Always remember, they want your business.

Think about how frequent flier programs work: if you choose their airline consistently, they’ll reward you by giving you a free flight. Granted, you’ll need to do a lot of flying if you’re just going to earn points sitting on a plane, but with a little research, you’ll find ways to make loyalty programs work in your favor. When booking online or with an agent, make sure you always ask questions. You will never get anywhere from being silent.

If for some reason the company you’re working with makes an error, be sure to take advantage of it. Most companies want to keep up a high level of customer satisfaction, and they rely on their guests to provide them with information on how to achieve that. See if they could possibly upgrade an aspect of your trip. Your coach tickets could turn into first class, or maybe your suite could turn into a deluxe version. Don’t be scared to ask for upgrades. If they say no, then you’re no worse off than before. Your criticism will ensure that yourself (and other travelers) will have a satisfactory luxury vacation.

When you’re looking your vacation online, you should search travel review sites for agents or an agencies who have shown they willing to work with unhappy customers, an have proven that they excel at customer service. Many times, customer service representatives get aggravated with customers who complain, or the service reps are based in a foreign country and can only read from a script. And you probably already know that scripts don’t cover every possible customer service issue that a traveler may encounter.

You’ll find just about any travel service rated on a review site somewhere. Just keep in mind that people like to complain about bad experiences, so you’ll find many more complaints than good reviews for even the most well-known travel services. So take the complaints with a grain of salt. Look for the most commonly re-occurring complaints (like bad customer service). Most bad experiences are not usually the fault of the service. Rather the experience occurred because of the traveler’s misunderstanding of the travel site policies.

You want to consider all aspects of your deal; not just the price tag. Quality wins over quantity in some cases. You find a rate online offering a room at $20.00 a night. It may sound appealing, right? Maybe you’re taking your family to Disney World and you figured you just need someplace to rest your head at night. But when you check-in, that’s when you discover the bathroom is shared with everyone on the floor, there’s police tape strung across the the door to the room next to yours, and you see prostitutes wandering in the parking lot. Maybe this deal WAS too good to be true.

Do your research. There’s plenty of information available to educate yourself on discounted travel mastery. Most of it is available for free; some of it you may have to pay for if you don’t want to do the research. Go to travel websites and forums specific to the type of trip you’re planning to take: Cruise, adventure tour, etc. If you are itching to take a trip that you don’t want to pay full price for, and you opt to pay for money-saving travel information online, I’d recommend that you only consider offers that give you a 100% money-back guarantee. If you don’t get great money-saving travel tips, at least you can get your money back.

Follow these simple practices, and you’ll have the luxury you want on a shoestring budget.

Air travel can be costly and, of course, tiring. Flying business class, however, offers the opportunity to make the most of the journey-a great way to travel and to reach the destination invigorated and stress-free. Business class flights are pampered with top-notch lounges, multi-course meals, Internet accessibility, private screens and entertainment systems. Getting expert advice and travel tips can therefore worth the effort in finding airline deals to make flying experience the best it can be. Flying in business or first class, especially, at a price of an airline deal on a business class seat is very well the Holy Grail of air travel. And there are ways to work the upgrades deals on business class seats.

Airlines’ Own Websites

Airlines’ own websites offer great possibilities to find the lowest available fares on business class seats and they may show many fare options. One of the advantages of finding an airline deal on a business class seat on the airlines sites is that the sale s established directly with the airline. It becomes swell more so when flights are cancelled for it will be easier to negotiate an alternative with an airline agent when ticket is purchased directly with them.

Frequent Flyer Miles Program

The frequent flyer miles program with an “elite” status member offers a better chance with more options and better odds at getting that upgrade for a deal on a business class seat. Using frequent flyer miles for an upgrade to a business class seat offers better value for the miles used compared to using miles to purchase a coach award ticket. Upgrade inventory, though, can be limited. It is best to book as far in advance as possible and be flexible about mid-week travel, if possible. Further, upgrades can be doable days and hours before departure-by being on the waiting list.

Travel Agents

The professionals in air travel are the travel agents with the relevant experience about the nuances of air travel. A good and reputable travel agent may well worth the help to find airline deals on business class seats, especially for foreign travel with complex itineraries. Helpful agents do all the work and help eliminate the stress and inconvenience of plodding through endless discount-air fare websites. Also travel agents often have access to special consolidated fares that are not offered directly by the airlines. And knowing all the conditions and restrictions associated with a consolidated fare ticket is key to getting that good value.

Airline-Independent Sites

Airline-independent sites are a good resource for surveying all the airline offerings at once. Among the most popular airline-independent sites where to find deals on business class seats include sites such as:

Expedia: one of the world’s leading online travel companies using leading technology-websites, mobile apps and Facebook page to discover destination ideas, get information about flights, hotels, care rentals, cruises, and more. Expedia also offers member rewards program with hotel price guarantees, earning points booking for others, and VIP access hotel room benefits.

Orbitzfor Business: offers a full service and fully integrated approach to travel and expense management by combining leading technology with expert support to achieve savings in travel expense needed.

Travelocity: offers the most comprehensive guarantee in the travel industry. The Travelocity Guarantee is key in Travelocity’s business model, guaranteeing the best prices in air travel-that matches lower prices online or will refund the difference if a lower price is found elsewhere.

Kayak: a tech company co-founded by Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz, with a different approach in air travel and focus on making airline travel better. At Kayak.Com website and Kayak mobile apps on any SmartPhone or tablet, one can compare hundreds of travel sites in one comprehensive, fast and intuitive display and choose where to book.

WholesaleFlights: a boutique travel agency specializing in discount business and first class flights. WholeSale.Com offers customer service with the personal touch of a friendly travel concierge helping with the research and providing several discount flight options in both business and first class.

OneTravel: offers a wide selection of business and first class flights with a low fare promise subject to terms and conditions, good for website bookings only.

Taking advantage of what is known as fare buckets is also a great way to gain savings in air travel. The further in advance a ticket is purchased the more fare options there are. On some flights there may be over a dozen different fares for coach, business or first class seats. However, it is often the case, that the cheaper the fare, the more restrictions and conditions there are attached to that bucket. And the few ways to find a cheaper fare bucket seat may be to change the time of departure or leaving a day earlier or later.

Further, there is also the website, ExpertFlyer.Com, an airline-independent website that does not sell tickets; rather, the site lists all the fares and rules for all flights. ExpertFlyer.Com is designed to meet needs of the frequent flyer, the airline mileage program “elite-tier” passengers, professional travel managers, and the occasional air traveler looking for the best values. ExpertFlyer.Com is a 24/7 real-time powerful air travel information service and offers information on seat maps on specific flights that show which flights are occupied or not.

Generally, the cost and rigors of air travel can be daunting. Ways these rigors can be minimized is to travel smart. Other useful resources worth taking a look at when making travel plans are websites such as SeatGuru and SeatExpert-sites with proven technology that offer designs of the cabins and graphical layouts of seats and the pros and cons for the various seats on the planes.

If you have ever had a flight cancelled, had a boarding pass but were denied boarding because they overbooked, been bumped just before boarding, sat on the tarmac for hours, or find that your luggage has been lost or delayed on arrival at your destination, you know how maddening it can be.

This is especially stressful if it’s not just you and now you have a melee of angry passengers looking to re book. To put it mildly they are stressed and upset and make it obvious, Then you have the drunk and the crying kids all of which add to the stress level when all you want is to board a plane and get to your destination on time.

In all of these cases, the airline owes you for your trouble. Sometimes it’s by law and other times it’s just good customer service – not all airlines are equal in the way they handle a variety of problems. Here are some of your legal rights you may not know you have..

Research and Know Your Rights in Advance

It makes sense to know your rights before you book. When you are stranded at the airport is no time to start researching to find out what you are entitled to and what rights you have in the particular situation you end up in. There are two resources that will help you understand your rights the US Department of Transportation Airline Passenger Protection Bill and the Air Consumer Flying Rights.

Locking in your Fare in advance of Payment

When booking a flight you can reserve and lock in your price for 24 hours or more without payment depending on the flight being booked. This works when booking direct with the airline or with your Travel Agent. This won’t necessarily work if booking your own fare online. At the time of making the reservation you must provide your exact name as it is on your passport or government ID. Names cannot be changed and if it’s wrong the reservation would be canceled starting back at the beginning looking for a new fare likely at a new more expensive price. This process gives you 24 hours or more to decide if that’s the flight you want before making payment. Remember that any requested changes during that time will cancel the reservation and start you back at the beginning with new information.

Prices do change quickly in the airline industry depending on the volumes booked on the flights. Booking last minute will likely cost you a lot more than booking 2 to 3 weeks out. When you get a good quote on the flight you want lock it in while you make a decision rather than losing out on the price while you decide.

Bumped Flights

You may not be aware but if you are bumped from a flight or if your luggage is lost or delayed you have a right to ask for cash. If they ask for volunteers because a flight is overbooked and offer a voucher for a future flight or a combination of cash and voucher most people will accept this. If that’s good with you then take it, but according to Airfare Watchdog you can ask for a cash payout on the spot depending on the amount of delay time In getting to your destination.:

Under US Department of Transportation rules bumped passengers subject to short delays will receive compensation equal to double the price of their tickets, while those subject to longer delays would receive payments of four times the value of their tickets. There are limits in place so check the DOT bill of rights for the latest compensation limits.

Short delays are 1-2 hours for domestic flights, and 1-4 hours for international flights. Longer delays are for times more than these. For outright cancellations, the airline owes a full refund, even on non-refundable flights.

Delayed or Lost Luggage

If your luggage is delayed or lost you are also entitled to compensation. Some airlines offer nothing other than delivery to your home or destination hotel when the luggage arrives, others offer a small amount of cash to cover essentials like toiletries, and others might offer a voucher for a discount on a future flight. The law actually says you are entitled to up to $3,300 for luggage delayed on a domestic flights and up to $1,500 for luggage delayed on an International Flight. The amount is determined by how long you are without your luggage. If the luggage is totally lost then you are entitled to the full compensation. Check the DOT bill of rights for the latest compensation limits.

Airlines are also required to apply the same baggage compensation for each segment of your trip if you have more than one flight including those with interline and code share partners.

Tarmac Delays

The amount of time the airlines are allowed to keep you sitting on a plane on the tarmac before they allow you to deboard has changed. On a domestic flight the airline cannot keep you on the plane for more than 3 hours before allowing you to deplane. On International flights the amount of time they can keep you on the tarmac is 4 hours. The airlines are required to provide you with water and washroom access at all times during the delay..

Summary

Airlines will often give you what works for them, glossing over whats best for you and your passenger rights. Your best defense is to know your rights and to be willing to follow up with them when you have to.

Most airlines will try to give you a travel voucher, a discount on a future ticket, a flight upgrade or additional frequent flier miles instead of cash. If you are happy with any of these take them.

The airlines will do their best to re book you on another flight or with another airline. Rather than wait in the line up after a flight is canceled call the Airline direct to re book, you’ll get booked much faster than waiting in line. Make a note of the airline contact number and keep it handy just in case.

Better to be prepared and to know your rights before you fly, then you’ll know exactly what to do if and when the times comes.

In my next article I will elaborate on how to complain and how to go about getting what you are entitled to.

The aviation industry has rose sky high with the development of technology. Almost every part of the world is now connected to one another by means of air. The Nas Airline is the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia and is a subsidiary wing of National Air Services (NAS). It was founded and established in the year 2007 with its head quarters being located in Al Salam Centre in Riyadh.

The operating bases of Nas airline is at King Abdullaziz International Airport and King Khalid International Airport. It has a fleet size of 16 and consists of airbus, boeing and embraer aircraft. Being a low cost international carrier, many people all around the globe choose to travel through Nas airlines. Some of its major international destinations are to Damman, Dubai, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Meddina, Jeddah, Sohag, Sharjah, Kuwait etc.

Nas airline have been flying more than 9 million passengers every week and has pioneered in the field of aviation by being tagged as a smart airline. The four core values that have helped the airline to be at par with other major airlines in the world are its smart services, punctuality, economic fares and young fleets. It serves its passengers with more than 524 weekly flights, and the young fleet reaches out to 24 destinations all over the world, both within and out of Saudi Arabia.

Even though being a low cost airline that offers journeys to passengers at competitive fares, the airline has always tried to satisfy the needs of its guests with utmost devotion. There are no complimentary meals provided within the flight keeping low cost in mind. But you can buy fresh sandwiches, lip smacking snacks and other cold/hot drinks onboard. You can also carry your favourite dishes and snacks on board that must be included within the hand baggage allowance.

One can easily book tickets and reserve seats online. With the user friendly interface, you can browse through the official website of the Nas airlines and choose your cabins under economy and business class. You can pre-book your seat on any nasair flight by simply logging in using the details you provided when booking and can select your seat. The seat prices and options usually vary depending upon the route and type of aircraft used. You can also book group tickets through the booking service that is available to Nas airlines’ travel agencies, companies and even individuals. More than 25 passengers need to book under Group Travel Booking Services in the same flight. Tickets can be booked easily through secured payment gateway using nasair vouchers, SADAD, Visa and Master cards.

A baggage allowance of 30 kg is provided to the travellers excluding the 10 kg for the handbag carried into the aircraft. If the baggage exceeds the limit, then you can easily pre-book and pay for your excess baggage and also receive 20% discount on airport charges.

The Nas airline has also signed franchise agreement with several global holiday packages at affordable price. You can choose your holiday destination and package with the number of pax and enjoy the journey.

There was a recent article on CNN where a women listed all the various ills she experienced in her vacation because of a “bad travel agent”. The airplane ticket she bought wasn’t upgradeable or refundable. The hotel wouldn’t upgrade her to a better room. Her car didn’t have unlimited mileage. She said the travel agent had done all these things in order to earn a bigger commission. And the list went on…

My first reaction as a traveler is that she had a good right to be angry and upset that her vacation wasn’t fantastic. My first reaction as a travel agent was – hold the fort – did she ASK for any of those items when she met with the travel agent?

We aren’t mind readers. We do are best to screen our clients to find out likes, dislikes and preferences. However, the client DOES pay a large part in the process.

To understand how best to utilize a travel agent, you should understand how a travel agency operates.

In “the good old days”, travel agents receive commissions from airlines, hotels, cars and resorts for travel purchased on behalf of a client. With the advent of the internet, these commission checks began disappearing. Regular airfare (without hotels or car rentals) is generally not commissionable. That means when the travel agent does the research for your best fare, s(he) isn’t going to receive any money for the time and effort spent on your behalf. Booking airline tickets alone is actually a money losing proposition for the travel agent. However, many good agents will continue to book these flights as a gesture of goodwill in hopes that you will bring them your other travel.

Your budget determines the type of airfare and accommodations you will receive. If you are on a tight budget, you will likely end up with non refundable / non changeable plane tickets and hotel rooms that won’t allow you to upgrade. Make sure to discuss your budget options and the pros and cons associated with your airfare, car and hotel before you make a purchase. Keep in mind that your travel agent is likely to receive a higher commission on the refundable / upgradeable fares so buying non refundable / non changeable tickets really doesn’t benefit the travel agent.

If you want to use airline or hotel points for upgrades, make sure and tell your agent up front. That way s(he) can find you the best upgradeable bargain.

Your travel agent can be an invaluable asset when planning your next trip or vacation. You, as the consumer, do have certain responsibilities to volunteer information if not directly asked.

Questions to ask your agent.

1. Do you charge any research or other fees?

2. Will you work with me if there are any issues?

3. Do you work with any companies that allow me to pay out my vacation?

4. Is there a 24/7 phone number in case of critical issues?

Questions your agent should ask you

1. What areas of travel interest you?

2. What kind of budget do you have?

3. What types of travel do you like – air, cruise, all inclusive etc?

4. Do you have airline seating preferences?

5. Smoking or non smoking hotel rooms (if applicable)?

6. What level of service do you expect – budget, 5 star etc?

7. Ask about visas and passports for international travel.

Fantastic vacations start with detailed planning. So, get together with your travel agent and start planning your next dream trip.

The open international trade market has paved ways for new business opportunities, where business professionals travel from one place to another almost all year round. Thus, air travel is now gaining momentum where big corporates book bulk flight tickets, both domestic and international. However, it’s been noticed that at the end of every year the corporates are left with a huge number of either partially used or completely unused flight tickets. Corporates either hire an employee or a travel agent to look after these unused airline tickets.

Well, it is much better on the corporate’s part to involve a tracking service provider, who is of great help in tracking the unused flight ticket for refund and also involves minimal cost. Moreover, these service providers are way safe to go, generally work on contract basis with organizations and provide apt information as quick as possible.

In general, these unused tickets are also gateway to future traveling of greater value if booked with the respective airline. Below are four main benefits of these service providers:

• Control Expenses

Every year, big business entities go for bulk booking of flight tickets and post the year, there are number of unused or partially used flight tickets left. These left tickets piling in a corner is a doorway to latent fortune. Many of us don’t know that even if the flight tickets are non-refundable, there are several taxes which are actually refundable. This amount is calculated by these service providers in its default currency and is set in our knowledge. This on whole, play a vital role in controlling corporate’s expenses.

• Save Time

Calculating the refund value of unused flight ticket is a very tedious and time consuming process. If every corporate takes this work on its shoulders, then nearly 60 to 70% of their time would be spent in calculating the leftover fortune. Henceforth, these corporates seek help from the ticket tracking service providers who effectively use their tools in extracting the refund value in a quick and time saving manner.

• No separate set-up required

Extraction of the refund value of the unused or partially used ticket needs a different set-up and some specialized tools access to which tools aren’t available to all. Thereby, it is a wise decision on corporates’ part to seek in services in order to get an exact refund value without setting up a separate section for the same at their office.

• Usable for future travel

Many of these unused tickets can be used to book future travel with the respective airline, sometimes by adding a minimal amount or sometimes absolutely free. This is done by the service providers directly, as they have their corporates’ future travel list.

When all’s said and done, these service providers prove to be great help to corporates. They help in estimating the complete refund value of the unused flight tickets over the year and simultaneously also keep a check over the future travel and its pre-bookings via unused airline tickets.

Today’s travelers are savvy and money-conscious, which explains why they are flocking to the Net like never before to research, compare and book airfare. As they have found, bypassing travel agents and opting for online shopping for cheap airline tickets saves time, money and frustration – all the while ensuring they get exactly what they want and when they want it.

In fact, according to Juniper Research, 37% of online airfare travel consumers visit three or more Web sites per travel product. A further 20% of online airfare travel consumers report feeling empowered by researching flights online, although they only visit one or two Web sites to research airfares.

With tight budgets and little leisure time to look around, net shoppers are enjoying the many benefits provided to them when they purchase airline tickets online.

Of course, if online airfare shoppers can be flexible with their travel dates (just by a day or two) or even their airports (flying in a mere 20 miles from their final destination), they can save even more money, allowing their hard-earned dollars to be used for downtime and not airtime.

Additionally, there are other ways you can shop online for discount airfare and stretch your buck even further.

Plan Ahead

For instance, have you ever noticed that the closer you get to your actual travel date, the more you have to pay? Rest assured, that’s no coincidence. Instead, that stems from the fact that the brass behind the airlines know that many business travelers must fly on short notice and take full advantage of this, charging more for booking those last-minute flights.

Sure, this may make traveling more expensive for the executive who has to make a meeting in a neighboring state or another country, but it doesn’t have to be more expensive for you.

All you have to do is plan ahead. For the best travel airfare, plan in advance enough so that you can book your flight 21 days in advance.

Keep in mind that if you just can’t get your travel plans together that far in advance, you will see significant discounts for booking 14 days ahead. After that, you will want to research and compare, because the price for your flight is sure to go up – sky-high, in fact.

But Not Too Far Ahead

Keep in mind that it pays to be patient and if you are trying to book a flight months in advance and the prices are more than you bargained for, worry not. Airfares fluctuate and you may be able to book your flight at the fare you are willing to pay (and not a penny more) if you just wait.

Sure, airfares may also rise. So, the best strategy is for you to compare fares over a period of time to see what’s happening with rates. By doing this, you’re sure to know a good deal when you see it.

Remain Flexible

Be flexible in scheduling your flight. By booking on different days, you may be able to save even more money, allowing you to get really cheap plane tickets.

For instance, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are typically the cheapest days to fly. This means that by booking a flight on a Monday with a return trip on a Monday will typically raise the costs.

Also, late-night flights and very early morning flights are times when not as many people want to fly, which can provide you with another cheaper alternative – such as further discounted airline tickets.

In short, for cheap air travel, remain flexible

Think About Flying ON Holidays

OK, so you don’t want to fly on Christmas Day, but if you would consider planning your holiday trip around a flight on one of the slowest travel days of the year, you might save big bucks.

Likewise, plan your family vacation to Disneyland or Las Vegas after Thanksgiving and before Christmas. This way, you’ll save lots of money on airfare and you and your family will enjoy the shorter lines at the theme park, too.

Location, Location, Location

As mentioned above, think about flying in to a neighboring airport. This short 20-mile drive may save you a few hundred dollars. How’s that for a little extra pocket change when you’re on vacation?

Scour Off-Line, Too

You will save money when your book your airfare online, but to get an accurate idea of how much you should pay and how much you are saving, keep an eye on airfare prices off-line. Check your local and national newspaper and keep and your eyes open for fluctuations and even special airline deals, then hit the Net.